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Youth Work Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2021

Wednesday, 30 June 2021

Ceisteanna (145)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

145. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the potential abuse of the youth employment support scheme by employers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35162/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) was introduced on 1st October 2018 and was open to applications from that date.

YESS was targeted at young jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. The scheme aimed to provide jobseekers with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. The scheme provided a supportive structure for participants, including case worker support for both placement hosts and jobseekers.

Since the scheme's inception, a total of 1,002 people have commenced a placement. There are currently 50 participants on the YESS.

During placements there is close monitoring of participants and host organisations to ensure all the conditions of the scheme are being met, thereby ensuring that any potential difficulties are identified and resolved.

YESS guidelines provide that placements must provide the participant with a broad, meaningful and practical workplace experience within the organisation. The placement should genuinely enhance the participant’s ability to obtain future full-time employment. The placement should demonstrate that an organisation is willing to support the individual and provide the opportunity to learn new and practical skills and access to formal and/or informal training through the support of their mentor. Participants are not permitted to work unsupervised/unaccompanied for extended periods of time. A placement host cannot state that previous experience is required when advertising a placement. The placement title and associated learning outcomes from the work placement must reflect these principles. Placements are checked before being placed on the JobsIreland website in order to ensure that they follow the specification of the scheme outlined in the YESS guidelines.

The YESS programme quality is monitored by the Department’s case officers. Hosts are required to complete a monthly compliance checklist specifying attendance and if the participants are progressing in line with the agreed Learning & Development Plan. Case officers carry out a two-month review of the placement and the Learning & Development Plan with the host and the participant. After three months, a placement extension can be requested if enough progress has been made and where further learning and development opportunities exist. If both parties agree to the extension and the case officer is satisfied both the host and the participant sign the extension.

At the end of the placement both the host and the participant are asked to complete an evaluation form.

Complaints and any workplace issues which arise during the placement are addressed and resolved between the placement host, the participant and the Departmental case officer, where possible. All complaints relating to participation on the YESS are investigated in full by the Department, and appropriate action taken where necessary. Details of investigations can be made public.

Therefore I am satisfied that there are procedures in place to deal quickly with any issues that could potentially arise, even where these would occur in only a very small number of YESS placements.

I trust this information satisfies the Deputy.

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